(Courtesy: The University of Arizona)

In a move that shocked Wildcat nation, Lute Olson and company have decided to replace Jim Rosborough…..

Arizona coach Lute Olson named Kevin O’Neill on Tuesday to replace longtime aide Jim Rosborough, who has rejected an offer to move elsewhere in the athletic department.

The staff shakeup comes after one of the more disappointing seasons in Olson’s 24-year tenure at Arizona. The Wildcats won 12 of their first 13 games and climbed to a No. 7 ranking before collapsing in Pac-10 play. They lost to Purdue in the first round of the NCAA tournament. - KTAR

This is most definitely a shocker….I did not see this coming, nor did any other Wildcat fan out there. What we thought was coming, was a Lute Olson retirement party.

Its also pretty sad day because a) Jim was a stand up guy, b) has been with Olson longer than my little brother has been alive, and c) Olson is the key issue(I believe). How many times has Olson’s failure to call a timeout, lack of ability to inspire and to straighten out a team when things have gone awry, come back to haunt him. The answer: many times.

Interestingly enough though, there may be a silver lining:

“I’ve always been a guy who thought defenses win championships and most games,” O’Neill said. “I would say that I’m a defensive-oriented guy.”

A-men to that. At least it sounds like Lute brought in the right type of guy….For Rosborough though, his departure for the team, left him less than enthusiastic:

Last week, he told the Arizona Daily Star he would not accept Olson’s offer of non-coaching position. “I’m done,” Rosborough said. “I’m a non-person right now.”

All I can say, is that O’Neill better bring it and actually slap some sense back into this team. We sure as heck know that Olson won’t do it. Jim, thanks for all your hard work and dedication to the Cats throughout the past 18 years. You will be sorely missed.

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